Vending-machine.



E. A. COPELAND.

VENDING MACHINE. I

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6.1914.

Patented Oct-8, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

Wfwsas.

Even few E. A. COPELAND.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AR. 6. 1914.

iffiineszes Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. A. COPELAND.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1914.

1,280,669 Patented 001;. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

M fnvni'ov E. A. COPELAND.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 UNITED STATES PATENT onnion.

EUGENE A.- COPELAND, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HOBBS MANU- FACTURING. COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE A. COPELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The present invention relates to a vending machine which is multiple in character, the same :being adapted for the dispensation of a variety of articles. Such a'machine involves the provision of aseries of independ-' ent containers, in each of'which is assembled a number of similar articles or packages. The several containers are suitably "labeled to indicate to a purchaser theclass of goods contained in each; the delivery to him of one of the articles or packages of thech'aracter he has elected to purchase is" effected after he has deposited a coin or check in a] slot or other suitable receptacle provided for the purpose.

One of the objects of the present invention is toprovide a vending machine of the above character, in which a single .coin receiving?" device is common to a plurality of. independent containers, thereby simplifying the construction and operation 'of'such a machine, and eliminating the possibility of depositing the coin in the wrong slot for the article which is selected for purchase.

Another object resides in the provision of mechanismwhich prevents the deposit of a coin by the customerbefore he has indicated from whichcontainer he desires to'purchase an article. Y

Still another object resides in the provision of mechanism which permits a cus-- tomer, after indicating "the container from I which he desires to purchase an article, to change his selection as often as he desires, before finally setting in motion. theimeans which actually delivers the article to him.

Other and further objects will be particularly pointed out in the description which follows and'in the claims annexedthereto.

In the accompanying drawings, 1

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, taken transversely of the machine through one of a series of article containers.

Fig. 2 is a/"rear view of the -machine, its rear cover plate being removed to expose the Specification of Letters Patent.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Application filed March 6, 1914. Serial No. 822,836.

coin controlled mechanism and the mechanismcooperatlng with the series of article containers.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the position assumed bythe mechanism after series of article containers showing other parts in the position which-they are caused to assume by the indicationof a selection.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the coin controlled mechanism, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Like reference characters are used to designate like parts in' the several figures.

The mechanism is mounted on a suitably supported rectangular base 1, and is inclosed within a front plate 2, rear plate 3, cover plate 4 and end plates 5. Suitably supported abovethe base 1 area plurality of article containers 6, in the present inportion stance three in number, each of which is adapted for the reception of'a number of similar piled up articles or packages, as indicated at A in Figs l and 3. -The containers 6 take the form .of vertically dis posed guideways, each having a rear wall 7 and two side walls 8 extending throughout the entire height of the-container. Extending transversely across the substantiall open fronts of all the containers-6 is a ar 9, adapted to maintain said containers in properly spaced relation, and also supporting within each container a vertically disposed plate 10, which is provided with an elongated-slot 11, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3. Within each container an angle plate 14 is adjustably supported by means of a screw 12 attached thereto and passing through the corresponding slot 11. Thumb nuts 13 are provided for the ends of screws 12, by means of which the distance between the lower end of each angle plate 14 and thebottom 15 of its respective container may be varied, to provide for the passage under said angle plates of packages of different thickness.

A delivery channel 16, having its' bottom flush with the bottom 15, is provided for each container and leads therefrom through front plate 2. Within each channel 16 is mounted an outwardly opening check plate 17,, which prevents access to its container from the exthe pile.of packages therein, and insuring terior. The rear wall"7, bottom 15 and channel 16 of each container are centrally slotted, as .at 18, to permit spaced upstand-..

ing lugs. 19, carried on endless sprocket chains 20, below each container, to"engage "the rear edge of the lowermost article or the downward movement of said packages when the lowermost package is ejected. The weighted members 21 are guided in their descent by their forked ends 22 which embrace the angle bars 14.

.Each container. has associated therewith a vertically slidable rod 23, which is mov-' able within guideways formed in brackets 24 and 25 on the rear wall 7 of the container.

Secured to each rod 23 is a collar 26, which has a pin and slot connection with an arm 27 of a bell crank, pivoted at 28 to the side wall 8 of the respective container. A substantially U-shaped member 30, provided in connection with each container, has one of its sides 31 extended rearwardly and pivotally connected to the other arm 29 of 'said bell crank; said side 31 being pivotally connected at an intermediate point to a link 33, paral- ;lel with arni 29, and pivoted on the same side of the container. The other side 32 of each U-shaped member extends along the opposite side wall 8 of each container, being connected to a swinging link 34 parallel with link .33 and arm 29. The provision of the parallel links 33 and 34 insures movement of each. U-shaped member in a horizontalchaser indicates the article which he desires to have delivered to him by depressing the button 36 of'that container which is provided with such articles; through the mechanism just described, the rod 23 of the container selected is elevated from the position shown .in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3. l

The elevation of one of the rods 23 prepares the way for the ultimate delivery from the corresponding container of one of the articles selected, by opening the coin receiving slot, and by. providing for the movement of sprocket chain 20, as will be hereinafter described. Assuming, however, that the intending purchaser, after making a selection and depressing a button 36 in purfront portionof each U-shaped mem suance thereof, changes his mind, and wishes to secure an'article from .another container of the series.-- By the mechanism about to bedescribed, the depression of the button of a secondcontainer selected not only elevates the corresponding' rod 23 ,of said container, but efl'ects the return of the; rod 23 of the first container to itsinitial position.

Secured to the rear wall 7 of each container i is a'br'acket 39,v having. journaled therein 'a horizontal rock shaft 40. Each shaft 40-has'secured thereto, at one end, a dependingarm 4],,having an inclined lower edge 42. Each rod 23 carries a fixed collar 43, in which is journaled a roller 44 adapted to engage the edge 42 of the adjacent arm 41. The initial upward movement of a rod 23 effects an inward movement-of its associated arm 41 to rock the shaft 40, by reason of the engagement of roller 44 with the inclined edge 42: Said shaft 40 returns to its-n rmal position after roller 44 has moved past'the edge 42, due to the influence of a weighted member 40', which is connected to all of said shafts 40, as hereinafter described. The final upward movement of rod 23 results in the engagement of roller 44 by a shoulder 45 formed in the adjacent edge or the arm 41, 'whereby said rod is locked and held in its elevated position as shown in Fig. 3. Each arm 41 has projecting therefrom a pin 46, which passes through the lower end of an arm47, secured'to the end of rock shaft/10v of the adjacent container. 7

With the rod 23 of one container maintained in elevated position as above described, the depression of a button'36 of another, container elevates its respective rod 23. The rocking of the shaft 40 of the second container by means of the engagement of its roller 44 with the inclined edge 42 of its arm 41 is imparted to the shaft 40 of the first container through the connected arms 41 and 47 causing the curved shoulder 45 of the first container to .move out of engagement with the roller 44 carried by the first rod 23, and permitting the return of the latter to its initial position shown 'in Fig. 1, under the influence of a spring 48 which is connected at its' ends to the bracket 39 and collar 26. The rod 23 of the second con-- tainer selected is now maintained in its elevated position, and this container represents the selection of the purchaser, unless he again changes his mind, and depresses the button of another container, whereupon the above described operation will berepeated.

.The upper bracket 25 of each container has pivoted thereto, at 49, a lever 50 which is secured by a pin 51wat its upper end to a plate 52. Each plate 52 is capable of a limited movement transversely across the back of its resgectivecontainer by reason of its .being he] on the bracket 25 by-a pair of screws 53, 53" passing through elongated slots 54, 54 in said plate. The. plates of adjacent containers lie in abuttlng relation, at the limit of their movement to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, when all of the rods 23 are in normal position. Upon the elevation of one of the rods 23, the'contact of a roller 55, carried by a fixed collar 56 on said rod, with the adjacent outwardly, curved edge 57 of lever 50, causes a movement of the latter away from'the rod, as shown in Fig. 4, and a corresponding left hand movement of its connected plate 52, whereby all ofsaid plates 52 to the left of theone immediately affected are also moved to the left owing to the aforesaid abutting relation of said plates. The movement of a plate 52 awa from the plate 52 onits right provides su cient space forthe entry between said plates of the upper end of the elevated rod 23, which is beveled, as shown at 58 to avoid possible contact with its corresponding plate 52, such as would result from any lost motion in'the moving parts.

The plate 52 associated with the extreme left hand container of the series adjacent the coin controlled mechanism, has its free end pivotally connected by a link 59 to the free end of a rocker arm 60, 'secured on a rock shaft 61 which is supported transversely of the machine in hangers 62. At its other end, adjacent the front. plate 2, the rock shaft 61 has secured thereto a depending arm 63 which is forked at its lower end to embrace a pin 64 carried by a pivoteddisk or plate 65, disposed on the inner surface of the front plate 20f the machine. In its normal position the disk 65 covers the open end of a coin chute 66 leading to a suitably shaped coin receiving slot formed in said front plate 2; the elevation. of a rod 23, moving the plate or plates 52 to the left, as

previously described, rocks the disk-65 about its pivot to uncover the end of coin chute 66.

The coin chute 66 forms part of a mechanism about to be described, for permlttlng a movement of the sprocket chain 20 of the selected container in order to eflect'the ejection of a package therefrom, upon the in-, sertion of the proper coin or check in the upper end of said chute. Saidmechanism is contained within a chamber at one end of the machine, one wall of such chamber being preferably formed by the si e wall 8 of the last container at the left hand end of the machine, although it is obvious that the said mechanism may be mounted in a separate and. distinct chamber. Pivoted to a fixed stud 67 carried within the said chamber is a weighted swinging arm 68, normally retained in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 5, by the contactof its upper end with one end of a lever 69, pivoted at 70. The extreme end of the other arm of said lever 69 is bent at right angles to the body portion of said lever, and enters the chute 66 ing the upper face of said lever 69 and ex- 68 to swing downwardly, by gravity, until machine. s

The downward movement of arms 68, 105

.wall thereof, in position to be struck by a coin or check passingby gravity through said chute to a coin receiving box 72. The

arm 68 and lever 69 are maintained in the positions shown in Fig.5 by means of a trigger lever, 73, pivoted at 74. The horizontal arm of said trigger lever which overlies the end of lever 69 has a set screw engag- 75 erts suflicient pressure thereon, due to its weight, to balance said lever 69 more or less delicately in a substantially horizontal position. The engagement of a coin with'the bent end of lever 69 disturbs the balance,

imparting a slight upward movement to the other end of lever 69- against the pressure of trigger lever 73 and permitting the arm its movement i 'stoppe by engagement of its free end with a fixed stop 76.

. Pivotally' attached to a laterally extending ear 77 onthe swinging arm 68 is link rod'78, which is pivoted at its other end to a rocker arm 79 carried by a rock shaft 80, mounted on a fixed standard 81. Pivotally connected to an intermediate point of rocker arm 79 is a depending link 82, the lower end of whichhas. a pin and slot connection 83 with a rocker' arm "84' secured to a rock shaft 85. An upwardly extending arm 86, secured to rock shaft 85, has a shoulder 87 thereon, which inthe normal position of the parts shown in Fig. 6, before the insertion of a coin within the chute 66, stands in 100 abutting relation to a shoulder 88 formed on a dlsk 89 carried by a horizontal shaft 90, which is ,the main operating shaft of the caused by the insertion of a coin, as above described, actl lates', through'the connected mechanism, the rocking of shaft 85 to carry the shoulder 87 out of the path of shoulder 88, permitting the rotation of shaft 90- by any suitable mechanism, in the present instance a hand crank 91. The rock shaft 80 has secured to one end an arm 92, which carries a roller 93. The rocking of shaft 80 in response to the movement of the parts to permit the rotation of shaft 90, carries the roller 93into the path of a cam 94 carried on shaft 90. The rolling of roller 93' on cam 94 causesa reverse rocking of shaft 80 to effect an immediate return of the arm 86 to interpose its shoulder 87 in'the path of shoulder 88; and furthermore, a return of the swinging arm 68 to its vertical position, where it is held, as before, by thecoiiperation of the lever 69 and trigger lever 73. '125 The above described mechanism, permitting a single rotation of a shaft in a given direction, constitutes the well-known Horton clutch, and its specific construction forms no part of the present invention. It will be 139 7 6. Secured at intervals along the length.

obvious that any mechanism adapted to perform the same function, is applicable to the present machine, and furthermore, that anyineans, such as an electric or a spring motor, may be employed for imparting-rotation to the operating shaft 90.

The shaft 90 carries 'at its end adjacent the rear .of the machine a beveled gear 95, 'which meshes with a beveled Pinion 96 "car-- ried on a countershaft 97 which is suitably journaled and supported along'the rear of theimachine below the series of containers of shaft 97 are gear wheels 98, each of which is in mesh with a gear wheel 99 mounted to rotate on a shaft 100 suitably supported by hangers below each container 6. Each shaft 100 also has loosely mounted thereon a disk 101, to the hub of which is secured a sprocket I wheel 102 lying in alinement with the slots 18 in the container walls and forming the .driving means for the sprocket chain 20,

previously referred to. To the face of eachdisk 101 is pivoted a latch 103, which in the normal position of the parts, is constrained to assume the position shown in Fig. 1 by reason of the engagement with the lower end ofthe lower-arm of a bell crank lever (104, pivoted at 105m the bracket 24, and retained in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the pressure of aspring 106, against its upper 'arm.

' as previously set forth, has no effect on bell crank 104 until the final portion of the upward movement takes place; at such time the pin107 is engaged by the lower end of the slot to rock the bell crank into the'position shown in Fig. 3, thereby permitting the forward end of latch 103 to drop into a notch 109 formed in the hub of theadjacent gear wheel 99, the said movement of the latch being insured by the pressure of a spring 109'.

The operation of the above described mechanism rotatably locks the sprocket Wheel of the container selected to the countershaft 97 and operating shaft 90, and upon th.e .,latter being given a single rotation, after theinsertion of a coin in the manner previouslyydescribed, the sprocket chain 20, Lwhich is carried over a suitably mounted sprocket wheel 110 at the front of the ma? chine, is moved forward to cause one of its .lugs 19 to engage the rear edgeofthe lowest package in the container selected, to eject the said package through the delivery channel 16.

of the chamber which contains the coin controlled mechanism, carries onone arm 111 a i bell crank is'pivotally connected to a link 115, which is pivoted at its upper end to one arm of a bell crank lever 110. The latter is pivoted. at 117 to a stationary plate 118 carried in spaced relation to the side 8 of the adjacent container by supporting brackets 119. The rock shaft 40, associated with the said end. container of the series, has an extension 120.to which is secured an arm 121, Whichis forkedat its free end to embrace the end of a bar 122, pivoted at 123 to the other arm of bell crank lever 116. A stationary pin 124 projecting from plate 118, supports the free end'of the bar 122, said pin lying adjacent a depression or notch 125 in the lower edge of the bar, whereby the traverse of said notch over the pin effects a raising or lowering of the free end of the bar dependent on the direction of its movement. The extreme outer end of bar 122 is cut away to form a shoulder 126, said shoulder, in the normal inoperative position of the mechanism, being located slightly in advance of the forked arm 121, which latter is yieldingly maintained in the position shown in Fig. 5 by a spring 127 and a projecting lug 128, held by said spring 128 against thesupporting bracket of extension 20.

' Upon the elevation of any of the rods 23, the rocking of its associated shaft 40, occasioned by the contact of: roller 44 with the lower end of arm 41, is imparted to all the other shafts 40 by the connecting arms 41 and. 47, hereinbefore referred to. In consequencethereof, the extension 120 of end shaft 40 causes an outward movement of the free end of arm 121 and a return of the same to its original position, when any one of the buttons 36 is depressed, the forked end of said arm passing freely along the bar 122, out. of contact with the same. The ro-- tation of shaft 90 to eject'a package from the machine, causes the high portion of cam 113 to engage roller 112, thereby moving by means of the connections above described, the bar 122 to the left in Fig. 5 and subsequently returning the same to its initial posimoves to the left, its outer free end is simultaneously lowered, through notch 125 and pin 124, until the shoulder 120 is carried below" andbehi nd the fork of arm 121; the return movement of the bar 122 rocks the" arm 121 outwardly, with a consequent corresponding rocking of the series of connected shafts 40, thereby permitting the disengagement of the roller 44 of the, elevated rod 23, from the corresponding shoulder 45, and

a return of the same rod to its lowered posi- A bell crank lever pivoted near the bottom tion, 7 v i The return of the rod 23 permits the bell crank lever 104 to resume the position shown tion illustrated in said' figure. As said bar stopping of disk 101 in the proper. position to have -its latch 103 drop into notch 109,

when the latter is operated, the periphery of said disk is rovided witha cut-in por- "tion 129, to recelve a roll 130 carried on theend of a pivoted arm 131. The roll 130 is held against the periphery of the disk by a spring 132, and drops quicklyinto the cut-in portion 129 of. said periphery simulta- .neously with the cessation of therotation of shaft 90.

The weighted' member 40' is carried on' extension 120 of the end rock shaft 40, the same coiiperating with spring 127 to return all the shafts 40 of the series to their normal positions, after rocking of the same occasioned by the elevation of one of the rods 23. By the mechanism above described, a single coin controlled mechanism is made effective for a plurality of package containers,'in a multiple vending machine. It is obvious that the number of containers employed may be multiplied indefinitely by simply duplicating the mechanism above described in connection with each individual container and by extending the countershaft 97. No uncertainty can exist in the mind of a customer as to the proper recep; tacle into which to dro to secure the article W ich he has elected to purchase, since there is .only one such receptacle or slot provided. Furthermore, he ispr'evented from parting withhis money until he has indicated, by the depression of a button 36, which article he desiresto have delivered to him. Finally, it will be apparent that any and every selection he may make, is never binding upon, him until the mechanismwhich actually effects the delivery of an article from the machine is set in motion. In the present instance, this mechanism is shown as actuated by a hand crank 91; it will be obvious, however, that the same could be actuated by other means,

such as a motor set in motion by the passage of a coin throughthe coin controlled mechanism, without departing from thespirit of theinvention. i

However, when the mechanlsm which actually effects the deliverypf an article from a machine is set in motion, then the customers selection becomes binding upon him, and he is not only prevented from making another selection, but the machine itself acts automatically to prevent the delivery of any article save the one which he has last indicated as his selection. Their resultis accomplished by the codperationof shoulder 126 on bar 122 with the upper end of forked his coin in order,

arm 121,.which locks the selected rod 23 in its elevated position and at the same time prevents the elevation of any other rod 23 than the one selected.

I claim, 1. In a vending machine, a plurality of ndependent article containers, a slidable rod associated with each container, means for selectively elevating the rod of any one 0011133411161, and means for effecting the return of said rod to its initial position upon the elevation of a rod of a second container.

2. In a vending machine, a series of inde pendent article containers, an actuating device common to all of said containers, a-

movableplate carried by each container in abutting relation to the corresponding plates of adjacent containers, means for moving the plate of one container, and means actuated by the resulting movement of theplate of the end container of the series for renderingsaid actuating device operable.

3. In a vending machine, a plurality of article containers, a rock shaft associated with each container, means individual to each container for imparting "a rocking movement to its respective rock shaft, and" means for transmitting the-,rocking movement of one rock shaft to all the other rock shafts.

4. In a vending machine, a plurality 'of article containers, a vertically slidable rod' associated with each container, ineans for selectively locking the rod of anyone contai'ner elevated position, and means, actuated by the elevation of a second rod, for

eflecting the release of the rod firstLelevated.

'5. In a vending machine, a plurality of article containers, a rock shaft and a slidable rod associated with each container, means for selectively locking. the rod of any one container in elevated position, and means for rocking the rocksha-ft ofsaid selected 1 container to effect the release of said rod.

6. In a vending machine, a1: plurality of article containers, a rock shaft and a slidable rod'associated with each container,'means for operatively connecting'the rock shafts of the several containers," means for selectively locking the slidable rod of any one container ing the rock shaft of anothercontaincr to release the rodof the first container;

7. In a vendingmachine, a plurality of article containers, a slidable rod associated with each container, a movable plate carried in an elevated position, andanieans for rockby each-container in abutting relation'to' the 1 corresponding plates of adjacent containers, and means actuated by the elevation of one of said rods for-moving the plate of the-corresponding container, and with it all of said plates lying on one side of said first mentioned plate.

8. ,In a vending machine, a plurality of article contamers, article delivering means associated with each container, at single actuating device common to all of said containers, a single operating shaft adapted to be rendered operative upon the operation of said actuating device, and means for operatively connecting said shaft with one of said article delivering means.

9. In a' vending machine, a plurality of ,article containers, article delivering means and a slidable rod associated with each container, means for selectively elevating the actuated by the elevation of a rod for operatively connecting the driving and the driven members of the article delivering means of the correspondlng container.

11. In a vending machine, a plurality of article containers, a sli'dable rod associated with each container, means for selectively locking any one of said rods in elevated position, a single operating shaft common to all of said containers, and means, actuated by the rotation of said shaft, for releasing said rod.

12. In-a vending machine, a plurality of article containers, a rock shaft associated with each container, a single actuating device common to all of said containers, and means, actuated by the operation of said actuating device, for rocking all of said rock shafts.

13. In a vending machine, a plurality of article containers, a rock. shaft associated with each container, means operatively connecting the rock hafts'of adjacent containers, a single ope ating shaft common-to all of said containers, and means, actuated by the rotation of'said shaft, for rocking the rock shaft of one of said containers.

14. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of article containers, means associated with each' container for permitting a purchaser to indicate a selection, means for .delivering an article for the selected container, and means for preventing the indication of another selection after the operation of said delivering means has been inaugurated.

Dated this third day of March 1914.

EUGENE A. COPELAND.

Witnesses PENELOPE COMBERBACH, Nmmm WHALEN. 

